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Have you been in a situation where you tried changing the ambience of your study place and still can’t seem to avoid study distraction? Honestly, our world is full of distractions wherever we go. In fact, a quick text or reply to your buddy might be trivial to you. But in reality, it actually sets you back by needing to refocus your mind on your task.
Fortunately, we can take steps to intentionally increase our focus and avoid study distraction. Here are a few tips that you can start applying right away:
Are you studying in a familiar environment?
Distractions that originate at home are the most common. Taking a brief snooze in between studying sessions can’t be all that bad, right? A well-stocked cupboard and refrigerator will keep you entertained when you’re feeling bored or hungry.
There may be no better location to learn than in the comfort of one’s own home, but that doesn’t mean it’s ideal for studying.
It’s best not to study in your bedroom or any other place where you might be tempted to doze off. Prolonged sleep deprivation can affect your health and mind. Studies have shown that reclining or lying down when studying can negatively impact your sleep quality and working memory, as well as your posture and spine. If you want to concentrate on your studies, you should avoid getting comfy because it will make it harder to stay awake.
You can also set up a study room in your own home. When you’re in this designated space, make it clear to everyone in your house that they should not bother you. You might also set up a temporary study area in your room with adequate illumination. With a designated location for studying, you’ll be able to concentrate better.
The internet is calling you!
Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have become the latest tools for news updates, education, social engagement, and networking. And this isn’t surprising at all. However, they can become time wasters that eat up your day in the blink of an eye in practice. TikTok and YouTube can quickly turn a 10-minute break into a two-hour binge of constant scrolling, while a few videos can easily lead you down a rabbit hole.
Your phone is very likely a reason why you can’t avoid study distraction. Put your phone in sleep mode while you’re studying so that you won’t be notified of any incoming calls or texts. Instead of checking your phone every minute as you learn, ask a friend or family member to keep it for you until you’re done so you can break the habit.
But what about when you’re using your laptop to browse the web covertly? Of course, you need to be disciplined in dealing with these digital distractions. Utilise applications such as StayFocused to block websites so you can concentrate on your schoolwork instead of surfing the web.
Friends and Family Interrupting?
The people you hang out with are an essential component of your university experience. They’re there for emotional support, but they’re also there to help you get away from the stresses of college. However, spending time with loved ones might be a significant distraction from schoolwork when you should be concentrating on your studies instead of socialising.
The combination of e-learning at home and homeschooling is a prescription for catastrophe. The only way to escape this is if your mother constantly naps you to help with chores and your siblings are fighting in the next room.
First and foremost, you must establish limits with your friends and family members and make them aware of your study plans. Whenever you go into ‘do not disturb mode, be sure to let your pals know. However, to avoid being unpleasant and dismissive, it’s crucial to set aside some time to meet up with your pals after your study session.
It’s important to tell your family members to keep their volume down so that you can concentrate on your courses. Setting up “signs” can help you keep track of your study time. For example, a closed door and agreed-upon “class hours” can convey that you’re busy and unable to meet with.
Can’t escape from your hobbies and other guilty pleasures
After a long day of studying, you suddenly remember a book that has been on your to-read list. Alternatively, you may find yourself with a sudden surge of energy and decide to tidy your room or cook yourself a fancy supper.
Even if they’re productive, hobbies can distract you from academic work. Likely, you don’t feel bad since you think you’re doing something productive with your time. Still, in reality, you’re squandering it instead of studying for your exams. Your procrastination is justified by your belief that you are working on something valuable.
It’s good for you to indulge in some of your old interests and vices. Still, it’s challenging to get back into study mode when you’ve expended all your available resources. Plan carefully to keep your hobbies from becoming a distraction. Schedule your hobbies around what you need to get done for school.
It’s also critical that you set up a time for your interests outside of school and studying. As a result, you’ll have a greater sense of urgency to complete your tasks on time and avoid more procrastination. A 20-minute fitness programme or reading just 10 pages of a novel before studying are examples of this. Even if you don’t study, you can still pursue your interests, but your grades will suffer if you aren’t strict about it.
[Our FAVOURITE Study distraction] Movies and TV shows
Streaming your favourite shows on Netflix while you’re studying isn’t a bad idea. You might be able to increase productivity and creativity by having ambient noise part of one’s environment. However, if you get too sidetracked by what you’re seeing instead of concentrating on your studies, you’ll have a problem.
You might believe that watching a few episodes of your favourite show to relax your mind in between study sessions is good for you. But after, you may find yourself halfway through season 10 of Supernatural with your homework still unfinished. I definitely had a hard time trying to get rid of this habit to avoid study distraction.
Playing television programmes in the background is good if you’re the type who relies on white noise to concentrate. If you want to keep your head engaged, your choice of entertainment should not be overly complex. Feel-good sitcoms are a great way to keep your mind active while you’re relaxing.
Others can get too sidetracked and give up on their studies because they can’t multitask effectively. Else, you might benefit from listening to instrumental music (with few or no words) in the background to aid your concentration. According to research, playing music while studying may help you relax and increase your concentration.
Finding the right study skills and a schedule that works for you is a process that requires a lot of experimentation. Although everyone’s environment and distractions are unique, these strategies can help you reach your academic goals with minimal to no effort.
Check out more study enhancing tips in this page!
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